Glass body having a fluorescent pattern inwardly of a surface thereof

Abstract

A glass body having a fluorescent pattern inwardly of a surface thereof is formed by depositing a first material in a predetermined pattern on a surface of glass containing readily ion-exchangeable first ions, the first material containing second ions capable of ion-exchange with the first ions, one of the glass and the first material containing ions for providing a fluorescence center, and by causing the second ions to penetrate into the glass through ion-exchange with the first ions so that the fluorescence-center providing ions may be distributed in a pattern which is in positive or negative relationship with the predetermined pattern.

We claim: 
     
       1. A normally transparent glass body which exhibits fluorescence in a desired pattern inwardly of a surface thereof when subjected to ultraviolet radiations, which consists essentially of a fluorescent silicate glass containing ions for providing a fluorescent center, alkali metal ions which are ion-exchangeable and ions for providing an extinction center present in said glass body in areas other than those of said desired pattern and extinguish the fluorescent properties of said ions for providing a fluorescent center,   said ions for providing an extinction center having been penetrated into said glass body from said surface through ion-exchange with said alkali metal ions, whereby, when subjected to ultraviolet radiations said glass body exhibits fluorescence in a desired pattern in those areas not containing said other ions.   
     
     
       2. The glass body of claim 1 wherein said ions for providing a fluorescent center are at least one member selected from the group consisting of ions having an incomplete f-electron shell, ions having an incomplete d-electron shell, ions having a complete S 2  -electron shell, and ions having a complete d 10  -electron shell; and wherein said ions for providing an extinction center are at least one member selected from the group consisting of gold, silver, copper and thallium ions. 
     
     
       3. The glass body of claim 2 wherein said ions for providing fluorescent center are selected from the group consisting of Eu +   3 , Tb +   3 , UO 2   +   2 , Mn +   2 , Cr +   3 , Bi +   3 , Sb +   3 , Pb +   2 , Sn +   2 , In +   1 , Ga +   1 , Cu +   2 , Ag +   1 , and Au +   1 . 
     
     
       4. The glass body of claim 2 wherein said desired pattern is a positive pattern. 
     
     
       5. The glass body of claim 2 wherein the surface from which said other ions are penetrated into said glass body is a smooth surface. 
     
     
       6. The glass body of claim 2 wherein said other ions are present only in the surface region of said glass body. 
     
     
       7. The glass body of claim 6 wherein the depth of penetration of said other ions from said surface is from 5 to 10 microns. 
     
     
       8. A normally transparent glass body which exhibits fluorescence in a positive pattern in a region extending inwardly from a surface thereof when subjected to ultraviolet radiations, which consists essentially of a fluorescent silicate glass containing alkali metal ions which are ion-exchangeable, ions for providing a flourescent center, which are at least one member selected from the group consisting of ions having an incomplete f-electron shell, ions having an incomplete d-electron shell, ions having a complete S 2  -electron shell, and ions having a complete d 10  -electron shell; and ions for providing an extinction center present only in said region of said glass body in areas other than those of said desired pattern, extinguish the fluorescent properties of said ions for providing a fluorescent center and are at least one member selected from the group consisting of silver, gold, copper and thallium ions, said ions for providing an extinction center having been penetrated into said glass body from said surface through ion-exchange with said alkali metal ions, whereby when subjected to ultraviolet radiations, said glass body exhibits fluorescence in a positive pattern in those areas not containing said ions for providing an extinction center. 
     
     
       9. The glass body of claim 8 wherein said fluorescence producing ions are selected from the group consisting of Eu +   3 , Tb +   3 , UO 2   +   2 , Mn +   2 , Cr +   3 , Bi +   3 , Sb +   3 , Pb +   2 , Sn +   2 , In +   1 , Ga +   1 , Cu +   2 , Ag +   1 , and Au +   1 .